(3/8-3/10) Looking for what to do in New York City this weekend? We've got the latest on all the goings-on, from concerts to museum exhibitions to comedy to the best in city sightseeing. This weekend, the Armory Show returns to the Hudson Piers, plus there's a star-studded sci-fi fest for Big Apple Comic Con and a new James Bond exhibit at SPYSCAPE.
THE BIG EVENT
(3/7-3/10) Art lovers, the annual Armory Show returns to Pier 92/94 on the Hudson in Midtown West. New York’s premier international art fair showcases over 200 galleries from around the world.
(3/9) Art lovers looking for gallery insight should check out this month's Chelsea Gallery Tour. An expert will lead you through the world's center for contemporary art where you can see the very latest in painting, sculpture, electronic media, and photography. Two afternoon session to choose from, 1pm and 3:45pm.
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(3/9-3/10) Big Apple Comic Con. This year's lineup will include William Shatner of Star Trek fame, Mike Colter from Luke Cage, Brent Spiner from Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Kathleen Turner. Saber Guild Empire Temple will be offering a Padawan Training Session and there's lots more. bigapplecc.com
(3/10) NYC Vintage Pop-up. Every Sunday on the Upper West Side you can find Grand Bazaar NYC, the city’s largest curated market—and most distinctive! You’ll find one-of-a-kind fashion, crafts, collectibles, and handmade jewelry. This Sunday, you’ll also find the best and brightest in unique, affordable vintage at the winter . You’ll find everything from 1920s lingerie to ’70s faux fur and all the styles you love (and love to hate!) from the ’80s and ’90s, too. Mid-century furniture, rugs, antiques, vinyl, and collectible cameras are also waiting, as is a yummy meal from the artisanal food court, serving salty, sweet, and savory delights.
EXHIBITION OF THE WEEK
(Opens 3/8) New York’s spy museum, SPYSCAPE, is bringing Agent 007 stateside. Experience the world of history’s most famous spy at 007 x SPYSCAPE: Driven, a brand-new exhibition.
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(3/6-5/15) Jean-Michel Basquiat at The Brant Foundation Art Study Center in the East Village. Eighties it-painter Jean-Michel Basquiat from New York City created passionate, bold street art and canvases. Basquiat died at only 28. Organized in collaboration with the Fondation Louis Vuitton and curated by Brant Foundation founder Peter M. Brant and Dr. Dieter Buchhart, the inaugural exhibition will bring together Basquiat’s most important masterworks from the Brant Collections as well as from international museums and private collections. No walk ins. Get tickets here (FREE). Note: there is a waitlist.
J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973), Dust jacket design for The Hobbit [April 1937], pencil, black ink, watercolor, goache. Bodleian Libraries, MS. Tolkien Drawings 32. © The Tolkien Estate Limited 1937.
(Now-5/12) “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” With these words Oxford professor J.R.R. Tolkien ignited a spark that's burned for generations of readers. From the children’s classic The Hobbit to the epic The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien’s tales of hobbits and elves, dwarves and wizards have introduced millions to Middle-earth, a world that Tolkien populated with creatures, languages, and histories. Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth at the Morgan Library & Museum is the most extensive public display of original Tolkien material in decades, stocked with family photographs and memorabilia, maps, draft manuscripts, and Tolkien’s original illustrations.
(Now-4/28) The Orchid Show at The New York Botanical Garden is back for its 17th year. This year, the Orchid Show is a dazzling tribute to Singapore—one of the world’s greatest orchid cultures—where these storied flowers are an integral part of the life of this vibrant “City in a Garden.” Developed in partnership with the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay, this horticultural tribute set in the landmark Enid A. Haupt Conservatory will feature thousands of orchids dramatically paying homage to Singapore’s rich legacy of innovative garden design, spectacular floral displays, and achievements in orchid cultivation. nybg.org
Nickolas Muray (American, born Hungary, 1892–1965). Frida in New York, 1946? printed 2006. Carbon pigment print, image: 14 x 11 in. (35.6 x 27.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Emily Winthrop Miles Fund, 2010.80. Photo by Nickolas Muray, © Nickolas Muray Photo Archive. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
(New) Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) lived and worked in a manner which challenged the political, social, and sexual norms of her era. Kahlo held her national identity dear and used traditional Mexican dress as a fixture of her public persona. Her large body of self-portraits created a mythos of self (some say she invented the selfie). New at the Brooklyn Museum is Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving, a lush exhibition that shows off Kahlo’s art, in addition to personal artifacts like her cosmetics, letters, jewelry, and clothing. Additional context is provided by items from the museum’s Arts of the Americas collection, including Aztec sculptures, ceramics made in Guadalajara in the early 20th century, and an ancient Colima dog sculpture of a Xoloitzcuintli, a Mexican hairless dog that Kahlo had an affinity for.
(Now-3/31) Extended !! Even over a century after his birth, Dutch artist M.C. Escher (1898-1972) continues to astound. Catch more than 200 of Escher’s mind-bending works at Escher: The Exhibition & Experience, installed at Brooklyn's Industry City. Exploring the intersection of art, mathematics, science, and poetry, the exhibition will feature interactive immersive experiences that bring the artist’s optical illusions to life.
Group IV, the Ten Largest, No. 3, Youth, 1907, from Untitled Series. Photo: Albin Dahlström, Moderna Museet, Stockholm
(Now-4/23) Before abstract art was a speck in Kandinsky’s eye, the painter Hilma af Klint (1862-1944) was pioneering non-representational painting in Sweden. A spiritualist who claimed to communicate with the dead, af Klint worked in near-obscurity, forbidding her paintings to receive public exposure until 20 years after her passing. Discover Hilma af Klint, a woman before her time, at the new Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum exhibition Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future. Over 170 of af Klint’s non-figurative paintings are on display, richly colored and often staggering in scale. Many pieces play with geometry and floral shapes that seem to swim across the canvas. As af Klint worked on her series The Paintings for the Temple, she envisioned a spiral temple as their eventual home. She got her wish over a century later with this eye-opening exhibition at the Guggenheim. Open Monday.
(Now-7/10) Photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, who died 30 years ago of complications from AIDS, is the subject of Implicit Tensions: Mapplethorpe Now, now displaying the first installment of a two-part retrospective at The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Mapplethorpe is known not just for his images, but for the controversies they incited. In 1989, after his death, his work became the centerpiece of a national debate about artistic censorship and what kinds of works public funds should cover (ironically, it was the debate that led to his widespread fame). Many of the images are graphic and retain the ability to cause discomfort, but time has lessened the shock; it has also brought to the forefront Mapplethorpe’s technical proficiency and his ability to capture deeply insightful looks at his subjects.
(Ongoing) Faith and Empire at the Rubin Museum. Religion has influenced and empowered countless political leaders throughout history, and Tibetan Buddhism is no exception. “Faith and Empire: Art and Politics in Tibetan Buddhism” is the first exhibition of its kind to explore Tibetan Buddhism’s dynamic political role in the empires of Asia from the 7th to the early 20th century. Artwork highlights include a set of 8th-century gilt-silver drinking vessels from the Tibetan Empire; an early 13th-century wrathful icon made of silk and ornamented with tiny seed pearls; a 4 ½-foot-tall 680-pound gilt-bronze bodhisattva from the early 15th-century Ming court; and a 19th-century 8-feet-wide Mongolian depiction of the final battle against the heretics and nonbelievers. The exhibition is arranged chronologically, beginning with the Tibetan Empire in the 7th century, and includes sections on the Tangut kingdom of Xixia, the Mongol Empire, the Chinese Ming dynasty, the rule of the Dalai Lamas, and the Manchu Qing dynasty. Open Monday.
(Now-6/23) A City for Corduroy: Don Freeman's New York, now open at the Museum of the City of New York, presents the gamut of Freeman’s New York work, from his lively and humane depictions of ordinary New Yorkers and the city in the 1930s, to his illustrated scenes of the Broadway backstage, to his children’s books inspired by the city. For the latter, you'll see not just the beloved children's Corduroy books, but also lesser known examples like Pet of the Met and Hattie the Backstage Bat. The exhibition features drawings, paintings, publications, and prints, as well as the artist’s original studies and sketches of Corduroy and other characters. Open Monday.
Photo: Jin Lee
(Ongoing) Sports in America provided a unique form of solace after the seismic losses of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. Comeback Season: Sports After 9/11, a special exhibition at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, delves into uplifting moments at games in the aftermath of the attacks. Explore the stories of Mike Piazza’s home run during a New York Mets home game, President George W. Bush’s first pitch at a World Series game at Yankee Stadium, and the New York City Marathon on November 4th, 2001. Video, artifacts, and moving images help provide context for a nation coming back together. Open Monday.
COMEDY
(3/8-3/10) Shawn Wayans at Gotham Comedy Club.
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(3/7-3/9) Drag queen Alyssa Edwards at Carolines.
(3/8) Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski & Friends stop by The Bell House.
(Ongoing) Check out great comedic talent every night at Broadway Comedy Club! Use our coupon and pay only $5 for admission!
Click here for more comedy shows in NYC this weekend.
KIDS
(Ongoing) Color Factory, a massive interactive art space, began in August 2017 in San Francisco. Wildly popular, the project has set up shop in SoHo and is sure to inspire lines as long as the cronut did at nearby Dominique Ansel Bakery. Designed by a wide spectrum of artists, Color Factory walks visitors through 16 rooms devoted to the wonder of color. You’re invited to compliment someone using color words, discover your signature color, and read wishes for the world written by NYC school children on varicolored balloons. Each room is equipped with a camera that can take a picture of you and send it to your phone: the better to post with! On view now through August, 2019. 251 Spring St., support@colorfactory.co, colorfactory.co, @colorfactoryco
Read about more Instagrammable pop-up exhibits in NYC here.
Click here for more events to do with kids this weekend.
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(3/9) Girls in Science and Engineering Day. Founded in 1982, the legendary aircraft carrier that’s now the Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum takes visitors on an interactive journey through history. Demonstrations, discussions, and hands-on experiences will all be on deck at the fifth annual Girls in Science and Engineering Day. The event runs 11am to 3pm and is free, although registration is required. intrepidmuseum.org
(Ongoing) A 7D experience at Madame Tussauds New York, Mission: Undead, tasks you with killing more zombies than your friends! Prevent the zombie apocalypse and survive your first night of work on the force at this state-of-the-art Times Square attraction (13+).
(Ongoing) Exhilarating Family Fun at Stomp NYC. Special discount packages available!
For even more kids activities, check out our sister site nymetroparents.com!
SIGHTSEEING
(Ongoing) For more than 70 years, Circle Line has been showing visitors the city, including the only cruise that goes all the way around Manhattan: Circle Line’s Best of NYC Cruise. One trip will show off five boroughs, three rivers, and more than 20 bridges on the way to 101 New York City sights. State-of-the-art Empire Class ships have recently launched, providing quieter rides, better sound for the personable onboard guides, bigger windows, improved climate control, and more outdoor deck space. (For dining and entertainment, take a ride on Hudson’s, a three-story “floating rooftop” that’s a Circle Line sibling.)
(Ongoing) THE DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE Powered by THE RIDE lets visitors re-live iconic moments in NYC history through the magic of virtual reality. In addition to video clips, you’ll get a personable tour guide and a state-of-the-art rolling theatre cruise through the city’s past—and present. Surprise street performances complete an unforgettable journey. Use our coupon and save $10 off!
Immerse yourself in the deep, dark depths of the ocean, where Humboldt squid fight to the death, 50 foot whales ride overhead, play with sea lions, navigate a sea kelp maze and more at National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey! Here's a $10 off coupon!
Bring a loved one to take in the breathtaking view at Top of the Rock.
(Ongoing) The Rink at Rockefeller Center, the most famous patch of ice in the world, welcomes skaters for a very glamorous experience.
(Ongoing) Get all of the best of NYC with the SightSeeing Pass NYC, from CitySightseeing. You can mix and match your way to a complete New York experience, with more than 100 attractions and special discounts to choose from. This is the only pass that includes options for five double-decker loops, Woodbury Common shopping, a horse and carriage ride, or entry to One World Observatory. You can even save on lunch: the pass includes prix fixe meals and other discounts. For amazing water vantages, CitySightseeing offers a Hop-On, Hop-Off ferry tour. Passes are available in digital or physical format and available for one to seven days; check the website for complete details. sightseeingpass.com
MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE
(3/8) Chanteuse Madeleine Peyroux performs at Sony Hall.
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(3/8) The Pittman-Daniels Quartet at The Sound Bite. The Reggie Pittman/Loren Daniels Quartet is comprised of Reggie Pittman, trumpet/flugelhorn; Loren Daniels, piano/vocal; Belden Bullock, bass; and Jonathon Peretz, drums. The quartet is a group of hardworking seasoned jazz journeymen who are also educators who reside in the metropolitan NYC area. Some of the greats that they have played with include Milt Jackson, Stan Getz, The Mingus Dynasty Band, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Maynard Ferguson, The Allman Brothers Band, Levon Helm, and The Duke Ellington Orchestra.
(3/9) New York Shakespeare Exchange (NYSX) announces the next ShakesBEER, NYC's original Shakespearean Pub Crawl, running Saturdays March 2 and 9, at 3pm. The pub crawl begins at The Dubliner (45 Stone Street, NYC) at 2:30pm and moves to Route66 Smokehouse (46 Stone Street, NYC), The Irish Punt (40 Exchange Place, NYC), and The Full Shilling (160 Pearl Street, NYC). Check-in is at 2:30pm at The Dubliner. Get tickets here.
(3/8, 3/9) Elton John at Barclays Center.
(3/8) Robyn at Madison Square Garden.
(3/9) The Bertha Hope Trio with special guest Lakecia Benjamin at The Sound Bite.
(3/10) Sunday Evening Jazz with pianist Jonathan Elbaz at The Sound Bite.
(Ongoing) The Imbible: A Spirited History of Drinking sweeps New World Stages audiences along a 10,000-year historical journey accompanied by craft cocktails and acapella singing. Sit back and enjoy the music (and drinks, three of which are included with your ticket) while experiencing live demonstrations and plenty of opportunities for laughter. Shows are 8pm Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 5pm and 8pm on Saturdays. Here's a $15-off coupon!
Click here for nightlife in NYC this weekend.
For information on LGBTQ nightlife, visit our brother site metrosource.com! Planning on being in New York in June for WorldPride? We've got all the WorldPride 2019 info you need right here.
Like what you see? Click here for more ideas on Best Things to Do in NYC in March. We've got April covered, too!
